July 30, 2017

17th Sun., Ordinary Time

July 30, 2017:  Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

See 10 connections with today?
Legend below
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For gospel
Pope Francis:  End human trafficking
Today is the World Day against Trafficking in Persons, promoted by the UN.  Each year, thousands are innocent victims of sexual and organ trafficking, and it seems that we are so accustomed to seeing it as normal.  This is ugly, cruel, criminal!  Help to counter this aberrant plague, this slavery.  Let us pray for victims of trafficking and for the conversion of the traffickers' hearts.
Related:  Five common myths about human trafficking

  • 1 Kgs 3:5, 7-12  Lord in dream / Solomon:  “Ask something of me and I'll give it to you.” / “Lord, you made me, your servant, king, but I don't know how to act.  Give me an understanding heart to judge and distinguish right from wrong.”  God, pleased:  “Because you asked for this—not long life, riches, or your enemies' life but understanding—I give you a heart more wise and understanding than anyone before or after you.”
    "Treasure chest" from
    words of today's readings
    (tagul.com)
  • Ps 119:57, 72, 76-77, 127-130  "Lord, I love your commands."  Your law is precious to me.  Let your kindness comfort me.  I observe your wonderful decrees.  Your words give understanding to the simple.
  • Rom 8:28-30  All things work for good for those who love God, whom he foreknew, predestined to be conformed to his Son, called, justified, and glorified.
  • Mt 13:44-52  “The kingdom of heaven is like buried treasure a person finds then buys with all he has.  The kingdom is like a merchant who finds a fine pearl then buys it with all he has.  The kingdom is like a net thrown into the sea which when full of fish is hauled ashore; what's good is put into buckets, and the rest is thrown out.  At the end of the age, angels will separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the furnace.”
    Reflect
      • Creighton:  We need discernment to look at options and make daily choices pleasing to God and in line with his purposes.  Solomon asked God for the best gift, a gift God was very pleased to give him. Solomon could have asked for anything. But he chose to ask for “an understanding heart, to... distinguish right from wrong.”  The closer we draw to God, the better we'll know his heart and be inclined to ask for the right things.  The 2nd reading concerns discernment about what's going on in our life. “Don’t worry when things don’t seem to be going well; just trust that God will turn this problem into good.”  Remember God is Love and loves you; don't let disappointment or despair engulf you.  In the gospel Jesus tells us to discern the pearls of wisdom and grace around us.  May we recognize, value, and seek them....
      • One Bread, One Body:  "Close is not in":  Being in the Lord's net doesn't guarantee he'll retain us.  Being in his field doesn't men we're his wheat; we may be weeds.  Living amidst Christians doesn't make us Christians; living in Christ does.  We're Christians not because we live among Christians but because we sell all we have to buy his kingdom. We live in Christ when we give him our lives and live for him, not ourselves....
      • Passionist:  Whether we're in physical pain, emotional distress, or relational heartache, we're challenged to place ourselves in God’s hands and know all will work for good.  The pattern of a life of faith is cross to resurrection, death to life, sadness to joy.  May we trust in God....
      • DailyScripture.net:  The Kingdom is the greatest possible treasure:  God.  Selling all to obtain this treasure could mean losing friends, job, lifestyle, free time....  Treasure is connected to desire, will, and focus. / As a dragnet takes in all kinds of fish, flotsam, and jetsam, the church gathers all comers; net and church don't discriminate.  God's kingdom is open to all....
      Dress legend
      • 'Heart' pin:  "Give me an understanding heart,..." (1st reading)
      • 'Owl' tie pin, 'scales' tie:  "...wisdom to judge, to distinguish right from wrong" (1st reading)
      • 'Street light' tie bar (oops, forgot):  "The revelation of your words sheds light" (psalm)
      • Gold- and silver-colored accessories:  Your law is more precious than gold and silver (psalm)
      • 'Pearl' tie bar:  A merchant who finds a pearl of great price sells everything and buys it (gospel)
      • NEW 'PC on the net' pin:  "The kingdom is like a net thrown into the sea..." (gospel)
      • 'Fish' pin:  "...that collects fish of every kind." (gospel)
      • 'Angel' pin:  "The angels will separate the wicked from the righteous..." (gospel)
      • 'Fire' pin:  "...and throw them in the furnace" (gospel)
      • Green shirt:  Ordinary Time season
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